Sandwell

Sandwell's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in health and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 310,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Sandwell increased by 8.9%, from just under 283,000 to 308,000.

The addition of about 25,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sandwell was home to, on average, 26 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the West Midlands' second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Health improved

This area saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good.

Across the region, Birmingham saw the next largest increase in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good (from 66% in 2001 to 79% in 2011).

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good, as the regional average grew from 67% to 80%.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) in Sandwell said their health was good or very good, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.7%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’good’ or ’very good’ health was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that that said their health was good or very good across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sandwell

The number of people in Sandwell that described themselves as Sikh increased from about 19,000 in 2001 to about 27,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 6.9% to 8.7% of the local population.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from this religious group fell from 2.0% to 2.4%, while across England the percentage went from 0.7% to 0.8%.

The number of people in Sandwell that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 190,000 in 2001 to about 170,000 in 2011 (from 69% to 55%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 29,000 to about 58,000 (from 10% to 19%).

Just over 25,000 people (4.6%) said they were Muslim, up from about 13,000 in 2001 (8.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Sikh in Sandwell increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Sandwell by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Sandwell stood out from other areas for children

In Sandwell, the proportion went up from 32% in 2001 to 34% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 31% to 30%.

The proportion of households without children in Sandwell fell from 57% to 54%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 12%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Sandwell residents that were self-employed increased from 4.5% to 6.0% in the decade to 2011.

The proportion who said they were employed remained close to 51%, while the percentage of Sandwell residents that were unemployed increased from 5.3% to 7.3%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.4% in 2001 to 8.5% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Sandwell increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Sandwell, the West Midlands and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in social renting

This area saw the West Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of socially rented homes.

Across the region, only Birmingham (from 28% to 24%) and Walsall (from 27% to 24%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of socially rented homes.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households in Sandwell lived in social housing, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage of privately rented homes increased from 5.2% to 13%.

The rate of social housing was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that that rented socially across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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